Conquistador News for Families

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We have 4 days under our belt in the 2nd 9 week. This week's message is about GRIT! Our teens are learning that success isn't always about being the smartest or getting everything right the first time. It's about showing up, putting in the effort, learning from mistakes, and refusing to give up.

Here are five important actions we want every Del Valle student to practice this quarter:

1. Show Up Every Day and Be On Time

Attendance matters! Every lesson builds on the one before it. Being present and on time gives students the opportunity to learn, practice, ask questions, and grow.

2. Give Your Best Effort

Don't settle for doing just enough to get by. Complete assignments, participate in class, study, and take pride in your work. Effort matters, even when learning is difficult.

3. Ask for Help and Learn From Mistakes

Not understanding something the first time is normal. Ask questions, accept feedback, correct mistakes, and try again. Mistakes should lead to learning, not giving up.

4. Take Responsibility for Your Choices

Come prepared, follow expectations, treat others respectfully, and make choices that support learning. Developing responsibility now builds habits that will matter in high school and beyond.

5. Set Goals and Monitor Your Progress

Know your grades, track missing assignments, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate growth. Don't wait until the end of the nine weeks to make changes. Small actions every day lead to big results.

Our goal isn't perfection. It's progress, responsibility, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning.

Quarter 2 is a fresh opportunity to show what we're capable of. Let's make it count!

💙 Quarter 2: let's get it! 💙

One Family, One Destiny

From Growth to Greatness

For informational purposes, we are providing Notice of the YISD Board Workshop and Meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 6:00 pm in the Ysleta Room.

NOTE: MEETINGS/AGENDA - LIVESTREAM - CITIZENS INPUT - PUBLIC HEARING ON MEETING DAY

The meeting will be live-streamed for the public's convenience. This allows members of the public to join the meeting from their own location. Simply visit https://www.yisd.net/o/yisd/page/live-board-broadcast on the meeting date and time to join the live stream.

Citizens Input and Public Hearing Sign-up: Persons who wish to address the board during Citizens Input or Public Hearing must follow the sign-up procedures in District Policy BED (Local). Sign in on the Citizen Input or Public Hearing sign-up sheet or sign-in cards available at the meeting from 5:15 pm to 5:45 pm on the Board meeting day.

To access the Board meeting schedule, agenda, and archives, visit https://ysletaschoolstx.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx.

Monday, October 26

• Red Ribbon Week

• Food Trucks for students with no unexcused absences, no office referrals (September/October)
• Trunk or Treat @ DVMS 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27

• Dr. De La Torre Del Valle Learning Community Meeting @ DVMS 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 28

• RCC Meeting 7:50 a.m.
• CCR/HB5 Night @ DVHS 5:30 p.m. 8th grade will earn three days of free dress once they complete pathway selection
• Volleyball: Eastlake @ DVMS 6:00 p.m.
• Dia De Los Muertos performance at Folklorico 6:00 p.m. CO Theater
• National First Responders Day- Thank you DVMS Security for all you do!
• RCC Recognition Day for RCC members during lunches

Thursday, October 29

• DVMS Volunteer Meeting

• Thursday Night Academy
• DVHS Registration
• YISD GT Night 6:00 p.m.

Friday, October 30- OFOD Day- Students may wear costumes!

• Halloween Dance sponsored by STUCO
• Progress Report 3 window ends

Saturday, October 31

• Football Puentes @ DVHS 8:00 a.m.
• Tennis: DV vs Eastwood Knolls @ EHS 8:00 a.m.

Additional VATRE information is available at www.yisd.net/VATRE.

For a property-specific comparison, please click the Ysleta ISD Tax Calculator.

Patriot's Pen

Each year, more than 800,600 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen® annual youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1 million in local and national awards. Each first place VFW Department (state) winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000!

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Students interested in participating must submit their essay prepared on this year's theme, with a completed 2026-2027 entry form, to their local participating VFW Post. Find your sponsoring local VFW Post as applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31.

The 2026-27 theme is:
“What a Veteran Taught Me About America.”

About the 2025-2026 winner ...

Andrew Ge, an eighth grade student from San Ramon, California, was named the 2025-2026 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Ge was sponsored by San Ramon Valley VFW Post 75 located in Danville, California.

Watch as Ge delivered his winning essay during the 2026 VFW Parade of Winners ceremony that was streamed live from the Union League of Philadelphia, or read his essay here. See the complete list of 2026 national winners.

• ELIGIBILITY: The contest is open to all United States- based classrooms. Contest categories include Grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12

• https://wylandfoundation.org/ocean-and-water-education-for-classrooms/ocean-art-contest-for-kids/

1. Attendance is strongly connected to academic achievement.

Students with lower attendance tend to have lower grades and test scores. Recent University of Chicago research on grades 6–11 found that attendance remains strongly related to achievement even in the post-pandemic period. ERIC

2. Middle school attendance predicts future high school success.
University of Chicago research found that grades and attendance (not test scores) were the middle-grade factors most strongly connected with later high school and college success. Students who improved their attendance during the middle grades were also more likely to perform well in high school. ERIC

3. Chronic absence can have long term consequences.
A longitudinal study found that chronic absence during the early middle grades was associated with lower eighth-grade math achievement and a substantially lower likelihood of graduating from high school on time. PubMed Central (PMC)

Attendance is academic. Every day a student is present is another opportunity to receive grade level instruction, practice new skills, get feedback, and receive intervention when needed. Research shows that middle school attendance is strongly connected not only to achievement today, but to success in high school later.

Whenever possible, please schedule routine appointments and family activities outside of the school day and make daily, on time attendance a priority.

6th:

• Unit 3: In the Dark October 13 to December 14 (37 days) 👈

• Writing Portfolio Entry #3: Informational Paired - Due October 30, 2026 👈

• Fall ECR scoring due November 13

• Writing Portfolio Entry #4 Informational ECR (revised draft) due November 20

7th:

• Unit 3: Moment of Truth (37 days) October 13 to December 14 👈

• Writing Portfolio Entry #3: Informational Paired - Due October 30, 2026 👈

• Fall ECR scoring due November 13

• Writing Portfolio #4 Informational ECR due November 20

8th:

• Unit 3: No Risk, No Reward (37 days) October 13 to December 14 👈

• Writing Portfolio Entry #3: Informational Paired - Due October 30, 2026 👈

• Fall ECR scoring due November 13

• Writing Portfolio #4 Informational ECR due November 20

6th/6th Adv:

Unit 4: Operations with Integers October 13 to October 26 👈

• Multiply and divide integers October 16 to October 20 👈

• real world and order of operations with integers October 21 to October 26

Unit 5: Equivalent Expressions October 27 to November 13

• Exponents and Prime Factorization October 27-28

• Order of Operations October 29-November 2

• Generating Equivalent Expressions November 3 to November 13

Unit 6: One Variable Equations and Inequalities November 16 to December 8

• Write and Solve Equations November 16 -November 19
• Write and Solve Inequalitites November 20- December 2
• Application: Real world problems December 3- December 4
• Determine if given value makes the inequality or equation true or false December 7-December 8

• Banking and Credit December 9- Decemer 11
• Credit report, money and college (future planning) December 14 - December 15

7th:

Unit 4: Linear Relationships October 13 to October 30 👈

• Represent constant rates of change October 19 to October 23 👈

• Represent non proportional linear relationships October 26 to October 30

Unit 5: Ratios, Rates and Percents November 2 to November 18

• Solve Rate and Ratio Problems November 2 - Nov 6

• Measurement Conversions November 9-10

• Solve Problems with Percent November 12 to November 18

Unit 6 Personal Financial Literacy November 19 to December 4

• Compare sales, rebates and coupons November 19- November 30

• Budgets December 1-2
• Calculate interest December 3 -4

7th ADV/8th:

Unit 4: Proportional Relationships October 13 to November 2 👈

• Proportional Relationships multiple representation October 15 to October 20 👈

• constant of proportionality October 21 to October 22

• slope/rate of change October 23 to October 27

• similar right triangles and slope October 28 and October 29

• Represent proportional relationships October 30 and November 2

Unit 5: Non Proportional Relationships November 5 to December 4

• Write equations in the form of y=mx +b/multiple relationships November 5- 12

• Identify and represent non proportional relationships November 13 -17

• Real world slope and y intercept Nov 18 to 20

• Intersecting Linear Equations November 30- Dec 1

• Functions Dec 2 to 4

Unit 6 Statistics with Bivariate Data December 7 to December 15

• Bivariate Data December 7 to December 11

• Mean Absolute Deviation and Random Samples December 14 - 15

• College Board unit 1: Linear Functions and LInear Equations October 13 to November 6 👈

• Unit 2: Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities Nov 9 to December 17

• District checkpoint Q2CP3 Nov 12-19

• College board Unit 2 Learning checkpoint November 12 to 19

• District checkpoint Q2CP4 December 9 to 16

• Interim Opportunity 1: November 2 to November 6

6th:

• Unit 3: A legacy of colonialism-Latin America October 13 to October 30 👈

• Unit 4: We are Family - Europe November 4 to December 15

7th:

• Road to Revolution
• Key Individuals and events of the revolution

• The Republic of Texas
• Immigration: Changing Demographics
• Early Statehood

8th:

• Setting the Precedent: The first 6 presidents
• Formation of Political Parties
• Domestic issues of the Early Republic
• National Security and Foreign Policy of the Early Republic

• Jacksonian Democracy
• Conflicts and Compromise
• Removal and Resettlement of the Cherokee Indians

6th:

Unit 3: Force and Motion (20 days) October 13 to November 9 👈

• Forces on Objects (7days) October 13 to October 21 👈

• Net Forces (7 days) October 22 to October 30

• Newton’s Third Law (6 days) November 2 to November 9

Unit 4: Energy (17 days) November 10 to December 10

• Kinetic and potential energy November 10 to November 17

• Energy conservation and transformation November 18 to December 2

• Transverse and Longitudinal Waves December 3 to December 10

7th:

Unit 4 Motion (18 days) October 14 to November 6 👈

• Speed and Velocity (9 days) October 14 to October 26 👈

• Distance-Time Graph (9 days) October 27 to November 6

Unit 5:Thermal Energy (15 days) November 16 to December 11

• Thermal Energy November 16 to December 2

• Temperature and Kinetic Energy December 3 to December 11

8th:

Unit 4 Waves (5 days) October 14 to October 20 👈

• Wave Characteristics/Use

Unit 5 The Universe (10 days) October 21 to November 3 👈

• Life Cycle of Stars (7 days) October 21 to October 29

• Galaxy Types and Our Solar System (3 days) October 30 to November 3

Unit 6: Global Weather Systems (10 days) November 6 to November 20

• Influence of Weather on Climate November 6 to November 13

• Ocean Currents and Air Masses November 16 to November 20

Unit 7 : Climate Change (10 days) November 30 to December 11

• Natures Impact on Climate November 30 to December 4
• Human Impact on Climate Change December 7 to December 11

To ensure a safe and respectful environment at all extracurricular athletic events, students and spectators are expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior.

• Event officials have the authority to immediately eject a student or spectator for inappropriate behavior. A verbal warning is not required before an ejection.

• Inappropriate behavior may also result in the individual being banned from district property in accordance with district policy.

• Assaulting a UIL official in retaliation for performing their duties results in an immediate prohibition from participating in future UIL or school-district extracurricular activities.

Bottom line for our families:

🏆 Support our students. Respect the officials. Represent DVMS with pride.

Wednesday, October 21 vs SISD

• Del Valle @ Drugan MS 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 28 vs SISD

• Eastlake vs DVMS @ DVMS 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 4

Championship Tournament: Highest Seed hosts
1 vs 4
2 vs 3

Saturday, October 24

• Del Valle vs Hanks Middle @ Hanks High School 8:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 31

• Puentes MS (SISD) vs Del Valle MS @ Del Valle HS 8:00 a.m.

Thursday, November 5

• Del Valle @ Sun Ridge @ Pebble Hills HS 8:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 24

• Del Valle vs Riverside @ Riverside High School 8:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 31

• Del Valle vs Eastwood Knolls @ Eastwood High School 8:00 a.m.

Cross Country Meet @ Del Valle MS 9:00 a.m.

YISD Sick Day Guidelines: Key Points for Families

• Fever: Keep your child home with a temperature of 100°F or higher. Students may return after being fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Do not give fever medication simply to lower the temperature and then send the student to school.

• Vomiting or diarrhea: Students should remain home and return after they have been symptom-free for 24 hours. For diarrhea, the guidelines specify 3 or more loose/runny stools within 24 hours and that the student should also be able to tolerate a normal diet before returning.

• Severe or uncontrolled cough: Keep your child home when coughing is severe or uncontrolled, even without fever. Coughing accompanied by fast or difficult breathing, wheezing, or fever should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

• Flu-like illness: A student with a cough and fever of 100°F or higher should stay home until the cough is mild and the student has been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

• Pink eye/conjunctivitis: Students with symptoms should remain home until evaluated by a healthcare provider. If bacterial, they may return after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment, and a healthcare provider's note is required to return.

• Unexplained rash: Students should remain home until evaluated by a healthcare provider to determine whether the rash is contagious. A healthcare provider's note is required to return.

• Possible strep throat: Significant sore throat, especially with pain when swallowing and other symptoms, should be evaluated. Students may return after 24 hours of antibiotics AND 24 hours fever-free without fever-reducing medication. A healthcare provider's note is required.

Dear Ysleta ISD parent/guardian,

Texas law now requires school districts to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. The attached information will help you learn about options – as well as how to talk to your child and others – regarding the safe storage of firearms.

It is unlawful to store, transport, or abandon an unsecured firearm in a place where children are likely to be and can obtain access to the firearm. Under Texas Penal Code 46.13, a person commits the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child if the child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm, and the person with criminal negligence:

• Failed to secure the firearm; or

• Left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access.

The penalty for allowing a child access to a firearm can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by a $500 fine) to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by a $4000 fine, a year in jail, or a combination of the two). Texas exempts the purchase of firearm safety equipment from Texas Sales and Use Tax.

Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://safegunstoragetexas.com.

Sincerely,

Ysleta ISD Office of Emergency Management & Preparedness

915-434-0106 | 915-434-0193

gun safety

• Our school drop off zone is in front of the school.
• Scooters, bikes, and skateboards need to be locked to our bike racks. DVMS will not be holding student transportation inside the building.
• Students should arrive to school no later than 8:15 a.m. in order to begin to head to their morning locations.
• The first bell to transition to first period will be at 8:15 a.m.
• The tardy bell for middle school students is at 8:30 a.m..
• Students need to be INSIDE their classroom at this time. Ready to learn.

After-school Pick Up:

• Please make sure your child knows where you will be picking them up after school.
• Students are dismissed at 4:00 p.m.

Important Traffic Expectations:

We understand that school traffic can be a challenge.

We also need your help and patience in making sure that EACH of our students arrive home safety.

Please:

1. Observe school traffic.

2. Do not be on your cell phones as we need you to be vigilant of students.

3. Always move up.

4. Please obey speed limits.

5. Follow the directions of safety personnel.

6. Please do not make two lines at pick up. Cars need to be lined up on the right side.

We can do this safely if we all play a part!

Main Office: 915-434-3300

Principal Veronica Frias: 915-434-3301

DVMS Secretary Rocio Vasquez: 915-434-3305

Del Valle Middle School Nurse Macias: 915-434-3311

Attendance by Alpha:

A-L for 6th, 7th and 8th

Priscilla Tovar: 915-435-3315

M-Z for 6th, 7th, 8th

Claudia Garcia: 915-434-3323

A-L for 6th, 7th and 8th Counselor and Assistant Principal

Counselor Janet Ortiz-Mascorro: 915-434-3316

Assistant Principal Mr. Alcala: 915-434-3303

M-Z for 6th, 7th, 8th Counselor and Assistant Principal

Counselor Jose Rivera: 915-434-3304

Assistant Principal Sara Ramirez (M-Z) 915-434-3302

School Librarian Christina Moncayo: 915-434-3350

Instructional Technology Coach Whaley Berry: 915-434-3355

Communites in Schools Irene Arzola: 915- 435-3378

Del Valle Middle School

Email: vfrias@yisd.net
Location: 8674 North Loop Drive, El Paso, TX, USA
Phone: 9154343301